THE WELLINGTON CUP

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 4

THE WELLINGTON CUP

TUESDAY’S FIELD REVIEWED GAY CREST AND CONCENTRATE LIKED CYLINDER GIVEN A GREAT CHANCE The last long-distance handicap of importance of the season is the Wellington Cup, a contest upon which light has been shed through the medium of the New Zealand and Auckland Cups. Indeed, the 20 acceptors contain the cream of the Dominion’s handicap middle and long-distance performers, and through this splendid acceptance one may confidently predict an epic contest. So very few can be counted a out of the possibles and probables that Tuesday s big race offers a wide scope for speculation. With 9.13 in the Auckland Cup, Nightniarch was decisively. beaten. It is obvious that the continued strenuous programme ,mapped out for this great stayer is having the detrimental effecu of impairing his brilliance, and the Ellerslie carnival definitely proved he was in need of a rest. He is not finding a great deal of favour for the Wellington Cup, and the majority of Turf students seem to realise that there is very little prospect of his being seen in true form on Tuesday. Historic is one of the best twelve-furlong horses m. commission. A master of big weights, his 9.3 appears to be a fa vour ' able handicap, and his prospects will be materially enhanced with the sting out of the going. Concentrate won. last year, and there is every reason to believe that he will be a fitter horse next week than he was at Auckland Cup time. Gallant Star Stranger, hero of many duels on this course, will be required to stage a come-back if his recent displays are to be taken,as any criterion. Without doubt, Historic and .Concentrate < appeal as the pick of the quartette'so far discussed,- but Concentrate would appear to be a better proposition. Gay Crest is back to his best form as his achievements at Ellerslie indicate, arid he scored a runaway victory over this distance on the* second day of the meeting.' He has 221 b. more than he carried in the Auckland Cup, but the shorter distance should be in his favour. There has been a slump in the scrip of In the Shade, rind no excuse can be offered for his poordisplays. A mile arid a half may see him to more advantage, but even that is problematical. First Acre carried 7.11, when he established the Australian and New Zealand fourteen-furlong record in the V.R.C. Handicap, and that surprising feat entitles the “Iron Horse.” to deep consideration. A repetition of that form would surely make him extremely difficult to beat. Most discussion centres upon Cylinder, the only three-year-old in the-race, the second, string ofthe Wilhams-Merd bow. Handicapped at weight-ffor-age,-the-Ncw-Zealand- Derby -wmner, -. though beaten in the Great Northern Derby, is mot unfavourably treated,, and his inclusion in the field is reminiscent pf the performance of Rapine, hailing from the same quarter. Rapme was narrowly beaten in the Great Northern "Derby by Enthusiasm, blit won the Wellington Cup. . Cylinder was not badly beat- . eh by Karapoti and, with 101 b. off his back, he ■. has strong claims to recognition. . . ~ inMerry Damon will relish his big drop m the weights, while Goshawk and Vertigern should both be improved by their, racing during the holidays. However, nothing makes niore appeal than the Metropolitan winner My Own. In that race 7.3 and beat practically this field, with, the exception of Nightmarch and Cylinder. She ran good races at Ellerslie and ipeets Gay Crest, who beat her into third place in the A.R.G. Handicap, on 121 b. better terms. Royal Parade must, be a chance, but the pick of those on the minimum should be Compris, Count Palatine and Shrewd, with Stanchion just a possiFor the purpose of comparison, the weights allotteil horses who were entered for the New Zealand, Auckland and Wellington Cups are given:— N % Auckland Wellington

In summing up, one must make al lowan cds f or,thej ossibility of the going being heavy, which is often the at this meeting. Historic, Concentrate, Gay Crest, First Cylinder and My Own seem to comprise the dangerous Nightmarch and In the Shade being passed over because of their lapse of foimi. To fine the position down still further, I would select, on a good track, the likely placegetters m the order of CONCENTRATE CYLINDER GAY CREST.

Cup. Cup. Cup. st. ft>. st. lb. st. lb. Nightmarch Historic 9, 6 9 13 8 9 9 12 9 3> Concentrate Star Stranger Gay Crest 8 10 9 1 7 9 8 13 8 13 7 1 9 0 8 10 8 '9 In the, Shade • •• Cylinder 8 2 8 3 7 6 8 ■ 3 8 0 7 13 Merry Damon 8 2 Goshawk \ * 7 4 I I My Own Count Palatine Shrewd 7 0 7 6 7 0 7 0 7 1 7 4 7 0 7 0